Page:History of Delaware County (1856).djvu/147

 DELAWARE COUNTY. 123 addressing me in particular, probably because nearer me than any of the rest, asked, whether I did not think that, by and by, his Indians would compel a general surrender of the Yankees ? I replied to him in as modest a manner as possible — not feeling in any mood of repartee, as the blood from the wound in my forehead still continued to trickle down my face, covering my vest and bosom with blood — that I did not wish to say any thing about it, nor give offence to any one. But he would not excuse me, still insisting that I should say whether I did not think so ; to which I firmly replied — feeling what blood and spirit there were yet in me to rouse a little — that if I must answer him, it was to say no ; and that he might as well think to empty the lake of its waters at a bucketful at a time, as to conquer the Yankees in that way. At this he burst out in a violent manner, calling me a '•darned rebel V for giving him such an insolent answer, and ordered me out of his sight ; but here, when ready to sink to the floor, (not from any thing the huge bulk of flesh had said to me, but from hunger, weariness, and the loss of blood,) a noble-hearted ofiicer inter- posed, saying to Butler : ' The lad is not to blame, as you have compelled him to answer your question, which, no doubt, he has done according to the best of his judgment. Here, poor fellow, take this glass of wine, and drink.' Thus the matter ended. [Here the old Gleneral wept at the recollection of so much kindness where he expected none.] We were now given over to the care of a woman, Nancy. Bundy by name, who had been ordered to prepare us a soup made of proper materials, who was not slow to relieve our dis- tress as far as she dare, as she was also a prisoner. But taking off" the belt which I had worn around my body, as the manner of the Indians is, to keep the wind out of the stomach, it appeared that I was ready to disown my own body, had I not been convinced by my other senses that there was no mistake. I will just give the reader a short account of this woman,